NCAA Changes ‘First Round’ to ‘First Four,’ America Shrugs

David Gonos 07:59 pm, February 10th, 2016

From 2011 up until last season, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament had a first round, a second round, a third round, then the Sweet 16 and Final Four. But now, the first games of the tournament between four teams playing their way into the tournament, will be referred to as the “First Four,” rather than the “First Round” of the tournament.

That means the Thursday-Friday games will once again be referred to as the “First Round,” and Saturday/Sunday games will be the “Second Round” of the tournament.

OK.

This really doesn’t change much other than how sportscasters talk about the tournament. For the most part, everyone referred to those first two games as the play-in games.

That’s like saying the “MLB Amateur Draft” will now be referred to as the “MLB Draft.”

I happen to write Fantasy Football articles, so rather than call me a “Fantasy Football writer,” you can just call me “that fat guy.”

This year’s March Madness, also known as the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, will begin on March 15-16, which is when the First Four will happen. The tournament will culminate with the Final Four games in Houston at April 2-4.